Simple Cooking

There is so much information out now about the importance of eating mostly organic fruits and vegetables (especially staying clear of the "dirty dozen") and if possible, buy local. And there are all kinds of fascinating grains in bulk bins that I know would be healthy additions to our diets. I am finding that healthy whole food eatin' is wonderful in theory but what do you do when you don't know how to cook all of those pretty veggies? And if the bulk bins of quinoa are a bit intimidating? And I loathe watching that beautiful produce going to waste in our refrigerator because we don't know how to prepare it in a tasty and wholesome way?

That is the problem I have been running into. I have 5 lbs of millet and don't know what to do with it. I bought a bag of gorgeous looking kale that didn't taste half as good as it looked! I keep finding that there are sooooo many cookbooks out there, but where do I begin? I think I need to demystify grains and veggies and learn some quick and easy ways to prepare them that we all will enjoy.

So I did some Net browsing and found a few websites that may help you as I am hoping that they will help me!

• This link is a small wealth of ideas of eating whole foods with lots of time-saving shortcuts and quick meals ideas. It's also a good reminder to pull out that Wonderfriend ...the crockpot!
• Whole Foods' website has a wealth of wonderful recipes and has this guide to cooking beans, peas and lentils. Beans are a wonderful alternative for protein (especially if you are seeking to reduce your meat consumption like we are), but they have to taste good, right? :) These bean recipes look to offer some of the flavor and kick that we love.
  
• And let's not forget the online mecca of recipe finding...All Recipes. Whenever you are contemplating your menus, seek to add a new seasonal veggie or an interesting grain...use the search engine at All Recipes by putting in the name of the food and see what pops up. I just found these Millet Muffins and look forward to putting my filled pantry to use!
• I can't wait to watch these groovy looking videos and learn more about why eating healthy is so important. Her recipes look simple and the site is very entertaining. Combining good food with good fun is always what I am looking for!
• I checked this book out from the library and it has a lot of unconventional veggie recipes written in an unconventional cookbook style by an unconventional woman! It is teaching me to use what I have on hand, to experiment, and to keep it all simple.
  
• And finally, this site has a bunch of basic vegetable cooking how-to's with links to recipes to spice it up a bit. It makes me realize that all of this is not as hard as I have made it out to be.

I hope something in here inspires you in your journey of simpler eating. Simple eating doesn't have to mean a drive-through or a packaged product (although we all need this quick fix sometimes!) Simple eating need not be bland or boring. God has given us glorious vegetables and grains along with amazing spices for flavor and texture...we just need to learn how to use them!

photo courtesy of .michael.newman.

And the Winner is....

Congratulations Crystal! I hope my gift to you will bless you with a sense of renewal, worship, and of His intimate love for you. Listen, sip, and savor.

And to all of you, I loved your wonderful ideas and would love to have all of you be friends! Your creative ideas gave me much inspiration and I look forward to cultivating a greater sensitivity to the needs of others...and to follow through with loving actions.

Great Cloth Bags

I came home from the grocery store today with a renewed sense of how great it is to use cloth shopping bags. I only needed 3 of my own bags for all of my groceries...whereas if I had allowed the bagger to use plastic bags, I would have come home with about 25! Those pesky plastic bags clutter my home and the environment and I am just so happy to be rid of the stress of all that.

I keep a large canvas bag in my van filled with smaller cotton or heavy canvas bags for shopping. I found a bunch at a local thrift store with great slogans on them that I enjoy...."ads" for scrapbooking, doulas, Nature Conservancy, the local zoo, a local recycling program. I usually just take the big bag inside, set it inside my cart and when I get to the check out line, I take out the smaller ones or show them to the bagger. It is the first thing that goes on the conveyor belt so that they immediately know to start bagging with my bags.

My favorite ones are my string Ecobags. They are so small that I always keep one in my purse in case I do any shopping. They are incredibly strong yet lightweight, hold a LOT of stuff, and come in great colors. My local health food store now sells them. Try to get one. They are awesome!

My newest favorite is one that a friend gave me for Christmas. She went to a local festival and found a vendor who made cloth shopping bags from heavyweight T-shirts.... and she was selling them for only a dollar! I used my new groovy tie-dyed one today for the first time and WOW! It held a ton of groceries....HEAVY stuff. It was so strong I couldn't believe it. The bagger was chuckling at how much that bag held! I got a copy of January's Martha Stewart Living and in there she gave a tutorial on how to make them! It would be great to go to a thrift store and pick up some neat T-shirts in cool colors and make a batch or just raid your husband's drawers! Recycling/Reusing/Repurposing at its best! :)

Enjoy going plastic-free and clutter-free...go cloth!

photo courtesy of karenknits

A Simple Giveaway

What a pleasant surprise to check my email to find that I had won a pouchee from a giveaway! I happened upon this giveaway when I found this blog through my daily Proverbs 31 devotional email. Receiving an unexpected gift is just so fun...the heart swells and the feelings of "I am special" are incredibly exhilarating!

I have always loved giving and receiving care packages. When I was in college I made a friend who lived far away in another state. She and I would send each other regular packages filled with goodies and small delights. Favorite magazines, photos, baked goodies, cassette tape "mixes", books, or smell-good stuff. When I lived overseas, I loved sending home little cultural trinkets to family and friends. And nothing said "I Love You" more than when I was the receiver of a thoughtful package from home filled with homemade goods, chocolate chips, new clothes or music, pretty journals, and fresh photos of loved ones.

I don't take as much time for that anymore like I used to. And I miss it. I love sharing encouragement with other sisters in small and meaningful ways. We all need to hear "you are not alone or forgotten!", "you are loved!", "you are worth so much to me and to Jesus!" It certainly takes some planning and some time and some cost....which means slowing down the pace of our lives so that we can have the space in time and resources to do small loving things for others. And it need not be much...a bookmark or hot cocoa packet slipped into a card is a delightful package in itself.

So in the spirit of giving and a renewed passion for care packages, I am going to have my own small, simple giveaway. I would love to send one of you a favorite CD of mine, a few Yogi Tea Stress Relief tea bags, and a little candle. May it encourage you of the Lord's love and care for you and give you some peaceful moments with Him.

Just leave a comment answering this question: "What is a simple act of care you can do for someone else as we approach Valentine's Day...a way you can love someone tangibly during this 'love' holiday season?"

I'd love your ideas because I am all about the practical and do-able. I think your ideas will inspire each of us with a new way to love.

I'll draw a name this coming Sunday and will put your love in the mail on Monday :)

Happy Giving!


photo courtesy of UncommonGrace

Simple Snowflakes

We rarely see snow here in South Carolina so when we woke up this morning to a mere frost, the kids were ecstatic! They bundled up to run outside and scrape the frost off the ground and broke off ice chunks from our little water table to keep in our freezer. So cute yet a little sad, huh?!

So I found this wonderful tutorial on cutting snowflakes (I just couldn't remember how to do it!) and the fun began! We cut and cut and oohed and ahhed and hung them on our windows with double-sided tape for a little winter cheer.

This is a great little craft for all ages (including 34 year old women:) and is a cool way to spend a chilly wintry afternoon.

Brrrrrrr!!

Home Sweet Home

Our time together on the cruise was just what we needed. Lazy days, fun stuff to do, time to laugh and talk, time to read, and lots of coffee too! I decided that it would be wonderful to carve out a weekend every January for Mike and I to get away. It's a great time to rest from the holidays and plan for the upcoming year....and to get away from cold weather!

Trip Highlights:

• Being Unhurried. This vacation was another eye-opener for me as to how much I rush around here at home. I had a hard time relaxing the first day of our trip because I am so used to moving around quickly at home. I realized that although I don't busy myself with a lot of activities outside the home, I still keep myself busy in my home...and I think I need to slow it down a bit. The cruise gave me a chance not to wear a watch, not to have my cell phone, and to just move about as I wished. It was really nice.
• Yoga. I took a yoga class with an instructor from Romania the first morning of the cruise. And wow, she was unbelievable! It felt so good to exercise, to stretch, to flex, to breathe, and to be with other women. Although I was VERY sore the next day, it really gave me the desire to pursue yoga classes here at home. I hate most exercise and anything that makes my bounce so this was right up my alley :).
• Room service. Can I just tell you how wonderful it is to have someone bring a full breakfast to my room complete with a hot pot of coffee at the time of my choosing? That was heaven. And one evening after our day in Cozumel Mike and I were so tired that we didn't feel like going to dinner. So we ordered wonderful steaks and salads and desserts and had a quiet dinner together in our room and watched the movie "The Holiday". Way fun.
• Cooking in Cozumel. Our day in Cozumel was near perfect. We spent an hour or so in the morning down at Paradise Beach and then headed into town for our cooking class. We met a local Mexican woman Josephina at a market to begin shopping for our ingredients and then headed to her little kitchen to learn how to make some authentic Mexican cuisine. All I can say is "wow!" Some of the best food of my life! Refried black beans, cactus salad, guacamole, and a layered tortilla tamale dish...all made from scratch. I lived overseas for two years and that experience led me to appreciate other cultures and gave me a deep desire to always experience the local culture wherever I go. It was so nice to get away from the hordes of touristy Americans and enjoy this beautiful slice of Mexican culture up close and personal. It was the highlight of our trip for sure.
• Hanging out with Mike and my sister Leslie and brother-in-law David. It was so fun to eat together, browse together, play putt-putt and shuffleboard in the evenings (we girls gave them a run for their money in shuffleboard!), and relax with some drinks late at night at the ship's Cosmopolitan Club. Not to mention our daily trips (well more like 3 or 4 times a day!) to the Cafe Promenade for coffee and sweet treats. We also enjoyed a fabulous ice dancing show together and some not-so-fabulous night shows which made for some great laughs. Must vacation with fun family regularly.

But I have always said that the best part of a vacation is going home! I love the anticipation of getting near our home, sleeping in my own bed, and eating my own food. This trip was no different. It was wonderful to take a vacation...the sleep, the explorations, the "timelessness", the food, the culture, the company, etc. But I always feel a huge sense of deep relief when we are all done!

Home Highlights:

• Sane Mother and happy children. My mom watched our children for almost 5 days and all went well! I came home to a clean home and all my laundry done and children that were thrilled to see us. That's a great homecoming gift!
• My own bed. Enough said.
  
• Daisy. Nothing like an owner returning to a dog...the ultimate in excited greetings and kisses.
• Routine. I like getting back to a normal eating and sleeping rhythm. I love the warmth of familiarity...routines give me a sense of calm and flow to my days.
  
• The daily stuff. Believe it or not I missed keeping my home, cooking, cleaning, talking with kids, playing games. That's why taking a break is good too...it gives you a renewed heart to love and savor what you do. I think sometimes women think that if they take a break it will spoil them or "make them selfish" or resent their home life. I have always found the opposite to be true...pulling away for renewal gives us new strength, clearer vision, and a deeper sense of gratitude for the calling of wife and mother.

If you haven't taken a break lately, consider it. If you don't have family to help, consider swapping child care with another family for a weekend. Use Priceline or Hotwire to find an inexpensive trip. We have stayed in 5 star hotels for only $40 a night! It can be done! It will be great for you to leave and even greater to come home again.

Off To Be

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"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in"
--Robert Orben

I am off to a Caribbean cruise to Cozumel with my husband, sister and brother-in-law. Four days of having nothing to do and all day to do it in! My husband Mike asked me what I am looking forward to the most and without hesitation I replied, "Irresponsibility!"

I am looking forward to having no responsibilities. Just eating, sleeping, or doing whatever I feel like doing. I am going to take a Mexican cooking class with Josephina. Haggle with the locals over some handmade goodies to bring home. Take some dancing lessons. Ice skate. Yes, I did say ice skate...there is a rink on board the ship! Eat all kinds of crazy food. Read, sun, and doze.

There are moments when we all need a break from the dishes, laundry, house, kids....a break from chronic responsibility to rest, rejuvenate, revive. God brings these times of refreshing along to us in the perfect timing. I am so grateful for this blessing and want to receive it and enjoy it from Him. I am humbled when I view the world and the poverty and yet have been given an opportunity like this. It moves me to worship.

So I'm off to "just be". Cruises are not what I would consider "simple living" (at all!) but for me, this really is a simple vacation. No cooking. No cleaning. No driving. Everything is taken care of. Free to wander, to rest, to laugh. Free to be.

photo courtesy of n!ck.

The Source for 2008

All That I Need
by Stephen Altrogge

In You is strength to sustain me
And wisdom enough to guide my hand
Mercy enough to forgive me
And power to finish what You began

All that I need is in You, Jesus
The fountain of grace that overflows
All that I need is in You, Jesus
You are my only hope
You are my only hope

In You is fullness of gladness
And fullness of grace for every need
Rest for the ones who are weary
And beauty surpassing all that we've seen

You satisfy my heart
You satisfy my soul
You satisfy my heart
O help me always know


photo by bcostin

Live. Laugh. Love.

Over the past few months I have continually noticed home decorations, stationary, linens and such that are printed with the lovely phrase "live well, laugh often, love much". I thought this would be a fitting phrase for how I wish to live my life in 2008.

As I think about what it means for me to live well this year, I am astounded by all the choices each of us have in the ways we can spend our time and resources. Here are some of my ideas for what it will look like for me to live well this year:

• Early to bed and early to rise. A rested Aimee is a much happier and healthier Aimee.
• Spend alone time with Jesus. Inside, outside, in the tub, on the porch...
  
• Journal regularly.
• Drink water.
• Drink coffee.
• Think romantic thoughts towards my husband.
• Keep a simple daily schedule with space for the unexpected.
• Pursue creativity daily. This could be blogging, scrapbooking, taking a few photos, setting the table pretty, sewing, making a card, decorating a corner, gardening....simple small acts.
• Be involved in others' lives. Practice regular hospitality.
  
• Eat at home... simple, tasty whole-food meals.
• Practice kindness and gentleness to all...beginning with myself.
• Inspire and encourage my children. Listen more.
• Serve my husband and children with joy. Smile as I work.
  
• Read, read, read.
• Consume less, produce more. Reduce and reuse.
• As I make daily decisions on how to use my resources, ask myself "does this choice help me live well?"

"A joyful heart is good medicine." We used to have a Steve Green video in which children sang this phrase over and over again...as a result we still have this tune in our heads many years later! It's true that laughter and merriment have a wonderful effect on our bodies, souls, and spirits. Laughing often is healing! People who laugh are healthier, less depressed, more hopeful, and live longer. Instead of exploding in anger at the little irritations that mount in a day, we can choose to explode in laughter instead. We can choose to reframe our experience to be one of happiness and gratefulness instead of pessimism and resentment. Here are some ideas for you and I to laugh often this year:

• Watch funny movies and comedies. Have you ever seen the film "The Importance of Being Earnest"? Many of my friends love watching the show "The Office".
  
• Read funny blogs and books. I have enjoyed just finishing the book "Cheaper by the Dozen".
  
• Keep it light. Go out with your husband on a date to simply have fun! Play putt-putt or go bowling. No serious conversations aloud.
• Enjoy your little children's antics...laugh with them. 9 year old boys tell great jokes! And toddlers are the best source of humor in our family!
• Always remember "this too shall pass" and the things that seem overwhelming or hard now won't seem as difficult in retrospect. Don't take yourself or your parenting or whatever so seriously.
• Say no to fears and worries for the future....they rob us of present joy. They really do.
• Be spontaneous. Go for a late-night pajama run for donuts. Go have a snowball fight. Play freeze tag. Jump on a trampoline. Dance together. Play a practical joke (we have a fake doggy poo that unexpectedly shows up around the house... lovely, I know.)
  

Love much. I Corinthians 13 is really all I would need to quote, but here are a few of my love thoughts:

• I really want to love the Lord with all my heart in the dailyness of being at home doing the small things. Things that go unnoticed by others. Things that I know only He sees.
  
• I really want to love my husband more this year as a helper to him and not a nagger of him. I want to ask him daily "how can I help you today?"
  
• I really want to love and accept my children with each of their unique needs and challenges and immaturities...to affirm each one with my words and actions....to speak to them daily with love and respect.
• I really want to reach out more to other women in my church and invite them into my home. I want to notice their needs and serve them. I want to listen more and talk less.
• I really want to love the people of the world more. Bring daily kindness to the people I pass in public. Smile. Greet. Well-wish. Pray for. Share with. Enter in and not avoid.

So even though I shared with you some specific action points, my greater desire is to leave you with broad guiding principles by which we can evaluate what are the most important things. For each one of us it will look different, but my prayer for all of us is that we will truly

Live well. Laugh often. Love much.